Our Community Partners are change agents within human services. They are 501c3 organizations that are either delivering innovative care or developing new ideas and models for doing so. They also mirror The Network itself: creative, effective and focused on the highest quality standards. Our partners are results-oriented, leveraging resources and knowledge to positively impact individuals and communities and to transform society’s vision of and approach to its most vulnerable members.

The MENTOR Network is a national network of local health and human services providers in 36 states offering an array of quality, community-based services to adults and children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, brain and spinal cord injuries and other catastrophic injuries and illnesses; to youth with emotional, behavioral and medically complex challenges, as well as their families; and to elders in need of support. In order to qualify for support from The Network’s Foundation, an organization must benefit the same populations the company serves.

Since its inception in 2007, more than 251 Community Partner grants have been awarded to organizations in 28 states.

FY2019 Community Partners Information

Person-first language recognizes that no matter the challenges a person may face, people are— first and foremost—just people. In 2018, The MENTOR Network made a commitment to adopt person-first language throughout our organization—in everything we do from how we speak and what we write to business systems and forms.

For FY2019 (October 1, 2018 to September 30, 2019), as an extension of The MENTOR Network’s commitment to person-first language, The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation Community Partners Program will focus exclusively on funding grant requests from 501c3 organizations to adopt person-first language.

To be considered for a grant, please submit a two page letter of interest to the Foundation. In your letter, please include:

An introduction to your organization. Tell us about the people you support and what makes your organization unique.

A brief assessment of the use of (or lack of use of) person-first language in your organization.

A brief description of your proposed approach to adopting person-first language. Your approach should take into consideration:

Internal and external communications vehicles and systems;

Opportunities to raise general awareness in your organization of what person-first language is and why it is important;

A high level description of your approach and project timeline.

Please send your letter, no later than January 2, 2019 to Foundation@thementornetwork.com. Indicate in the subject line that you are submitting a Community Partners LOI.

Organizations invited to apply for a grant will be notified in February 2019. Grant amounts will be determined during the application review process and on average, may range from $5,000-$20,000.

Meet a Community Partner

Learn more about Community Rowing Inc., a Boston-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the belief that the sport of rowing provides unique opportunities to promote personal and community growth through teamwork, discipline, and physical fitness.

The people that we support certainly deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, and that really starts, even before service, with our language and how we talk about the individuals we are honored to serve. What can seem like really small changes in how we talk about our work and the people we support can really have a big impact because we are all susceptible to bias, and the words we use serve and can serve as a nudge that helps us keep the best interest of those we support in the forefront of our mind.

Bruce Nardella

President and CEO, The MENTOR Network, and Chairman, The MENTOR Network Charitable Foundation